Iowa Veterans for Biden Announces Regional Chairs
Published: 11/30/2007


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

CONTACT:
Victoria Dillon/515-440-2008
Mark Paustenbach/302-428-5427
press@joebiden.com



IOWA VETERANS FOR BIDEN ANNOUNCES REGIONAL CHAIRS
Plans Community Forums Across Iowa

Des Moines, IA (November 30, 2007) – The Biden for President campaign today announced the Regional Chairs of its Iowa Veterans for Biden committee, which will host a series of community forums on veterans issues across Iowa throughout the month of December. The Regional Chairs, which will advise Sen. Biden on areas of concern to veterans, has planned the statewide forums in order to give Iowa veterans, their families, and their communities the opportunity to influence the national dialogue on veterans issues. This Sunday, Sen. Biden will join members of Iowa Veterans for Biden for their inaugural community forum at the Beaverdale VFW Hall in Des Moines. The campaign also announced upcoming forums in Fort Dodge, Burlington, Mason City, Sioux City and Waterloo.

“I am honored to have the support of these men and women who have so nobly served our country,” said Biden. “Together, we will ensure that veterans’ voices are heard in the living rooms of voters here in Iowa and across the country.”

The Iowa Veterans for Biden committee is comprised of veterans who have served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Korea, the Cold War and World War II, Iowa state representatives and family members of fallen servicemen.

“I’m honored to serve on Senator Biden’s advisory board,” said Jeremy Reynolds of Grundy Center, an Iraq War Veteran and Regional Chair of Iowa Veterans for Biden. “Over the course of his career, he has been an outstanding voice for servicemen and women in the field and the veterans that return home. This tour will give us a chance to discuss with Iowans the issues that affect them and their families and gives us a chance to listen to their concerns and bring them to our next commander-in-chief.”

The series of forums will address America’s shared responsibility in caring for our men and women in uniform including a true reform of the Veterans Administration system, providing necessary armor and vehicles to troops in the field, Sen. Biden’s plan for Iraq and the importance of garner bi-partisan support in bring this war to a conclusion.

Sen. Biden recently unveiled his plan to keep America's promise to veterans by reforming the Veterans Administration and making it more responsive to the needs of our veterans once they return home from the battlefield as well as our veterans who have already performed their service.

“Our commitment to those who have admirably served our country must be without question,” said Senator Biden. “Just as we must protect them and give them everything they need on the battlefield, we owe our brave soldiers the same support upon their return home. This is our sacred obligation.”

Sen. Biden believes that all veterans must have access to health care and that the Department of Veterans Affairs has a fundamental responsibility to address their varying care needs in a timely manner. His five-point plan for VA reform aims to improve the handling of claims, eliminate restrictions on veterans’ access to health care, accommodate the long-term care needs of veterans, ensure adequate treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and improve the provision of care to all veterans.

Sen. Biden’s proposal for VA reform is attached. Details on upcoming community forums throughout Iowa are forthcoming and will also be available at www.joebiden.com/iowa.

IOWA VETERANS FOR BIDEN REGIONAL CHAIRS NameJohn Whitaker ServiceState Representative, Father of Iraq Veteran CityHillsboro
McKinley Bailey State Representative, Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran Webster City
Dick Taylor State Representative, Korean War Veteran, Navy Cedar Rapids
Chris Frosheiser Son was killed in Iraq by and IED Altoona
Randy Flaherty Cold War Veteran, Navy Mason City
Jeremy Reynolds Iraq War Veteran, Iowa National Guard Grundy Center
Cal Halliburton Vietnam War Veteran, Army Ames
Michael Trenary Iraq War Veteran, Iowa National Guard Fort Dodge
Fred Hunter Korean War Veteran, Navy Des Moines
Eugene Menke WWII Veteran, Navy Burlington
John Stromberg Korean War Veteran, Air Force Davenport
Emil Burke WWII Veteran, Army Air Corps Grinnell
Tim Nash Father of Iraq War Veteran Marion
Jose Cortez Iraq War Veteran, Iowa National Guard Council Bluffs
James Timmer WWII Veteran, Marine Corps Clinton

IOWA VETERANS FOR BIDEN COMMUNITY FORUMS TOUR

Monday, December 11th – Fort Dodge
Thursday, December 14th – Mason City
Tuesday, December 18th – Burlington
Thursday, December 20th – Sioux City
Friday, December 28th – Waterloo

###

PRESS RELEASE

" Let's MAKE Conservative Republican Ed Hamilton LAS VEGAS CONGRESSMAN EDWARD 'Mr Clean' HAMILTON "


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- In a remembrance today to all the sacrifices made by brave American veterans of foreign wars, Las Vegas 1st. Congressional District candidate Ed Hamilton issues the folowing statement. " If elected, I pledge to accept only One Dollar ($1) of my $173.000,00 annual congressional salary, as long as the federal budget is still in the red," he says. Further, Hamilton cites the extraordinaryly high percentage of homeless veterans among the general population. " According to CNN Wolf Blitzer today, twenty six percent of the homeless are veterans, " he elaborates. Because of this national shame, this compassionate conservative Republican from Clark County, Nevada, has decided, as a congressman, Hamilton will donate his monthly congressional salary to a Las Vegas veterans homeless trust fund. Furthermore, the Republican asserts, " I urge my opponent, the incumbent Democrat Party Las Vegas Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, to match my offer to our honorable, brave but desp
erately homeless veterans." Hamilton goes on to point out that this millionaire female Democrat has a known reputation in Nevada political circles as a miser. " At the beginning of the year, around January/February time frame, Shelley Berkley cries all the way to the bank and deposits her paycheck including a raise to cover the so-called COLA, a benefit which was originally invented by industrial labor union contracts for hourly rated assembly line workers but certainly not intended for millionaire politicians on salary," Hamilton states in his usual animated fashion.

Interesting opinions

looks good so far

Dear Mr. Sanson:

I saw a thread about your PTSD interview.

This is too painful to even speak about. This past October 31, my 38 year old son committed suicide. He sounds exactly as the article described. A West Point graduate, he served in the Kuwait after the shooting stopped in the first Bush war, but still dangerous. In his note, he gave PTSD as a cause.

Thing is, he did seek medical help, and was given meds that didn't help, in fact were for ADD which he didn't have. He was never considered a suicide risk by the family he'd isolated himself and those he encountered, even after rage episodes.

The thing that would've saved him was if there had been something to bridge the disconnect between veterans and the civilians they return to. Through Representative Kucinich, I advocated for a 24-hour, 7 day a week hotline for veterans and their families. This would've been the part of the puzzle that would've saved Craig. Representative Kucinich called me when this legislation was passed.

I'm wondering, was there follow through? It's unbelievable that this hasn't existed all along, so people have a place to turn when things begin getting difficult. I do think the publicity this is getting is already saving lives, as there will no longer be situations where suicide isn't considered a risk with those who have served their country, however stable, loved, and accomplished they might have been before embarking on their military careers.

Best regards,
MaryAnn Wiedl
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